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POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. -- Harrison has alternated winning and losing through the seven-game regular season. The Huskies are hoping to snap that pattern on Thursday.

The fourth-seeded Huskies begin defense of their title when they face top-seeded Poughkeepsie in a Section 1 Class A Football Championship first-round game, 6 p.m., at Arlington High School. Poughkeepsie is undefeated at 7-0 while Harrison comes in with a 4-3 record. The Huskies earned a berth by beating Horace Greeley, 42-7, last week.

This will be the second meeting between the teams this season. Poughkeepsie topped Harrison 27-14 in week two as quarterback Josh Oliver ran for 114 yards and threw for 78. It is also the second consecutive year the teams have met in the playoffs. Last year, Harrison eliminated Poughkeepsie in the semifinals.

Senior halfback Will Hilliard had a big game for Harrison last week, rushing for 169 yards and three touchdowns. Hilliard is Harrisons game-breaker. Every time he has the ball in his hands, he can take it in for a touchdown. Poughkeepsie comes in with its undefeated record intact after rallying from a 21-0 deficit against Nyack last week.